The greenhouse facilities at Assiniboine College in Brandon are on a growth track.
In late November, the western Manitoba school announced its second major greenhouse-related donation in as many months. The McCain Foundation, the philanthropic offshoot of McCain Foods, donated $200,000 for the college’s greenhouse expansion plans.
That follows an October announcement in which the RBC Foundation earmarked $700,000 for the college to expand its greenhouse infrastructure, as well as its Greenhouse in a Box project, a portable greenhouse facility viable for a wider variety of climates to extend the growing season.
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Why it matters: Assiniboine College has been working to dramatically increase its agricultural programming and student spaces.
McCain Foundation chair Ann Evans said they are “proud to support initiatives that recognize the environment and promote sustainable practices,” and that the funding is an investment in “hands-on learning experiences and supporting agriculture programming at Assiniboine, helping to build a strong, sustainable future for agriculture in Manitoba and beyond.”
The $200,000 is the second donation from the McCain Foundation this year, the college noted. It previously promised another $100,000 for the Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture.
That facility, expected to break ground next summer, is planned as a hub for the college’s agriculture-related course offerings and applied research. The greenhouse expansion will complement the new facility, Assiniboine College said.
Planned greenhouse improvements will connect the existing grow plots, orchard and weed identification garden.
“Through the expansion of the greenhouse, students will gain access to state-of-the-art facilities, spaces and equipment that will allow faculty and students to expand their work in addressing industry demands and tackling challenges at both local and global levels,” a Nov. 28 release from the college read.
Nicole Gaudette, dean of Assiniboine’s Russ Edwards School of Agriculture & Environment, said industry collaboration with organizations like the McCain Foundation “is vital for our students’ success.”
“This support will not only support the expansion of our greenhouse facilities, but also enable students to be a part of industry-driven projects that equip them with the skills needed for green-collar jobs to contribute to a low-emissions economy.”
Derrick Turner, vice-president of advancement, said the existing greenhouse was built about a decade ago “to match the growing capacity of greenhouse production within Manitoba and the Prairies.”
Since then, horticultural projects have looked at extending the Prairie growing season while tapping alternative energy like solar, testing different growing mediums and variety work on sweet potato cultivars for Prairie conditions.
Some projects have also partnered with industry, such as a collaboration with Vermillion Growers, a large-scale tomato greenhouse operation in Dauphin.
